Endless air-trunk separator with air-replenishing device.



No. 770,272. PATENTED SEPT. 20, 1904.

E. R. DRAVER.

ENDLESS AIR TRUNK SEPARATOR WITH AIR REPLENISHING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 3, 1903.

N0 MODEL. 5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 770,272. PATENTED SEPT. 20, 1904.

E. R. DRAVER. ENDLES$ AIR TRUNK SEPARATOR WITH AIR REPLENISHING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 3,1903.

NO MODEL 5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Evw/ $21 400:

No. 770,272. PATENTED SEPT. 20, 1904.

. E. R. DRAVER. ENDLESS AIR TRUNK SEPARATOR WITH AIR RBPLENISHING DEVICE.

APPLIGATION FILED DEC. 3, 1903.

N0 MODEL, a SHBETSSHEBT a. 7

71/726,575 e s, I fi70627/2f 5171/ .74? Braver PATENTBD SEPT. 20, 1904.

E. R. DRAVER. ENDLESS AIR TRUNK SEPARATOR WITH AIR RBPLENISHING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 3, 1903.

5 SHEET$-SHBET 4.

NO MODEL.

No. 770,272. PATENTE'D SEPT. 20, 1904. E. R. DRAVER.

ENDLESS AIR TRUNK SEPARATOR WITH AIR REPLBNISHING DEVICE.

APPLIOATION FILED mm. s, 1903.

N0 MODEL. 5

mihwq NITED STATES Patented September 20, 1904.

PATENT rricn.

ENDLESS AIR-TRUNK SEPARATOR WITH AIR-REPLENISHING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 770,272, dated September 20, 1904.

Application filed December 3, 1903. Serial No. 183,549. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL R. DRAVER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of Wayne and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Endless Air-Trunk Separators with Air-Replenishing Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My present invention relates to endless airtrunk or continuous air-belt separators, the term separator being herein used, broadly, to include all machines in which an air-blast is used for the separation of grain or other stock from foreign materials or for the separation of dust from the air which carries it.

A great objection to the use of a continuous belt of air in middlings, purifiers, aspirators, and similar machines has been found in the fact that the air under continual use will become overcharged with line dust and become foul, and hence cause the grain or other material to be tainted.

My invention has for its object to provide an improved air-replenishing device which will operate positively to draw ofi a portion of the air from the endless air-belt, and thus prevent the air within the endless air-trunk from becoming foul.

To such ends the invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described, and defined in the claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is avertical section throughamachine designed in accordance with my invention, said section being taken on the line a" no of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the irregular line .70 m of Fig. 1, some parts being broken away. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through a machine of modified construction, said section being taken on the irregular line a of Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section taken on the irregular line of m of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing several continuous air-belt separators and a common device for drawing off and replenishing the air thereof.

The machine illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 has incorporated therein several of the novel features which are set forth and claimed in my pending application, Serial No. 182,07 8, filed November 21, 1903, and entitled Grainseparator and dust-collector. The machine illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 has incorporated therein certain features set forth and claimed in my pending application, Serial No. 165,616, filed July 15, 1903, entitled Self-contained grain-scourer and dust-collector. Both of the constructions illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4:,

inclusive, disclose a novel arrangement of cates suitable framework which supports an endless air-trunk, involving, as shown, a fancase 2, an air-trunk section 3 leading therefrom and passing by way of a crooked or a winding air-trunk section 4 to a main settlingchamber 5, above which is the laterally-expanded chamber 6, that leads back to the eyes of the fan-case 2 through vertical trunk-sections 7. The upper delivery end of the trunksection 1 communicates with the top of the settling-chamber 5 through a plurality of short depending tubes 8, and the upper portion of said chamber communicates with the extended trunk-section 6 through a plurality of short vertical tubes 9, which tubes 8 and 9 relate to the novel dust-collector ordustprecipitating device, which, as before stated, is not herein broadly claimed, being the subject of another application. The grain or other stock is delivered into a feed-hopper 10, shown as supported on top of the trunk-section 4 and having a bottom opening which delivers the grain through the upper portion of the air-trunk section 4: and into an intermediate hopper 11, located between the upper feed-hopper 10 by a feed-roller 13 and coiperating valve or gate 14:. The shaft of the roller 13 projects at one end and is provided with a pulley 15. In one side of the intermediate hopper 11 is an automatic valve 16, and in one side of the discharge-hopper 12 is an automatic valve 17. In the intermediate portion of the air-trunk section 4 is a depressed hopper-like section 18, which affords what may be termed a secondary settling-chamber, and in one side thereof is an automatic valve 19. A fan-head 20 works within the fan-case 2, the shaft 21 thereof being suitably mounted in bearings supported by the machine frame or case. At one end the shaft 21 is provided with small pulleys 22 and 23, and at its other end it is shown as provided with a larger pulley 2 1. The bottom of the main settlingchamber 5 is in the form of a trough 25, and working in said trough is a discharge-screw 26, the shaft of which is provided at one end with a relatively large pulley 27, over which and the relatively small pulley 23 on the fanshaft 21 runs a belt 28 for transmitting motion from the latter to the former. Another belt 29 runs over the pulley 22 and over the relatively large pulley 15 on the shaft of the feedroller 13 to impart motion from the fan-shaft to said feed-roller. As shown, the dust pre.

cipitated into the trough 25 is discharged therefrom by the feed-screw 26 through an opening 30,formed in one wall of said chamber 5 at one end of said trough.

In applying the primary feature of my present invention to the machine above described 1 find it convenient to apply the fancase 31 of the air-replenishing device directly to one of the air-trunk sections or extensions 7, the eye 32 of said fan-case being opened directly through one wall of said section 7. The fan-shaft 21 is thus arranged to pass axially through this relatively small fan-case 3]., and hence a relatively small and second fanhead 33 is applied to said fan-shaft and arranged to work within the said fan-case 31. The discharge-spout 3 1 of the fan-case 31 is in this instance shown as arranged to discharge directly into the atmosphere. It may be here stated that the so-called air-replenishing device afforded by the relatively small fan 31 33 acts to replenish the air of the continuous air-belt by continuously drawing ofi' therefrom a portion of the foul or dust-laden air, the fresh air being caused to take the place of the foul air drawn 06 by leakage of air into the endless air-trunk through the various inlet and outlet passages into and from the said trunk.

The action of the machine above described may be briefly stated as follows: The grain in passing from the feed-hopper 10 to the intermediate feedhopper 11 and from thence to the discharge-hopper 12 will be twice subjected to the continuous or endless air blast or belt, and the screenings will be precipitated into the hopper or secondary settlingchamber 18, while the light dust will be carried into the main settling-chamber 5, and asthe air makes its abrupt turn in passing from the tubes 8 to the tubes 9 the dustthat is, nearly all thereofwil l be precipitated to the bottom of said chamber 5 and carried from thence by the feed-screw 26 through the discharge-opening 30, while the air, relieved from dust, will be drawn back to the main fancase 2, and from thence again started on its course through the endless air-belt. The clean grain will of course flow in a continuous stream from the discharge-hopper 12, while the screenings, when they sufficiently accumulate to press open the valve 19, will fall from the secondary hopper or secondary settling-chamber 18. As is evident and. as has already been indicated, the continuously-running fan of the so-called air-replenishing device will continuously draw off from the continuous main air-blast a portion of the air thereof which has become more or less charged with dust and usually more or less heated, with the effect that the air in the endless air-trunk is kept from becoming foul, and, furthermore, is kept cool.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 the primary endless air-trunk involves a grain-scourer, and the grain is delivered therefrom into so-called secondary endless air-trunk, as in my said pending application Serial No. 165,616. The primary endless airtrunk in this instance is supported by the main frame 1 and involves a scouring-chamber 35, a settling-chamber 36, and an airtrunk section 37. A perforate and fixed scouring-cylinder 38 is secured in a horizontal position within the scouring-chamber 35, and an annular fan-case 39 is fixed in one end of said chamber 35 in axial line with said scouring-cylinder. The chamber 35 communicates with the settlingchamber 36 through a plurality of depending tubes 1O, and said chamber 36 communicates with the lower portion of the air-trunk section 37 through annular openings that surround the said tubes. Here, again, it may be stated that the arrangement of the tubes 40 and airpassages 41 is not herein claimed, being the subject of another application relating to Dust-collectors. A fan-head 412 works in the fan-case 39, and its shaft 13 extends axi- IIS ally through the scouring cylinder 38 and is mounted in suitable bearings on the frame 1. The grain is delivered to the scouring-cylinder 38 through an inlet-spout 44 andis discharged therefrom through an inclined spout 45. The fan-shaft 43 carries a reel-like brush 46, which works within the scouring-cylind er 38. The bottom of the settling-chamber 36 is in the form of a trough 47, having at one end a discharge-spout 48. Working within the trough 47 is a discharge-screw 49, the shaft of which projects at one end and is provided with a pulley 50, over which and a relatively small pulley 51 on one projecting end of the fan-shaft 43 runs a belt 52 for imparting motion to the said screw. Motion may be imparted to the fan-shaft 43 by a power-driven belt, (not shown,) which runs over a pulley 53 on the said projecting end of the fan-shaft. The scoured grain from the scouring-cylinder 38 is delivered by the discharge-spout 45 to the secondary endless air-trunk 54, which air-trunk involves a fan-case 55, in which works a fan-head 56, carried by the fan-shaft 43, as illustrated in my said pending application Serial No. 165,616. In the application of the air-replenishing device to this latter-described machine it is convenient to apply the fancase 57 thereof directly to one side of the upper portion of the trunk-section 37 and to open the eye thereof directly through the adjacent wall of said trunk-section. Again, in this construction the fan-shaft 43 is passed axially through the fan-case 57, and hence it is convenient to apply the fan-head 58 of the airreplenishing device directly to said fan-shaft and within the said fan-case 57.

In both of the machines above described individual fans for each machine are, as shown, employed in the application of the air-replenishing device, and this is the preferred arrangement where the machines are used separately or as single machines. Where, however, a line of machines are used, it is preferable to draw of]? the air from the endless airtrunks thereof by means of a common fan and arrange this common fan of the air-replenishing device to discharge into a dust-collector which is independent of the several machines. Such an arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 5, wherein several machines of the character illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 are shown as connected to a common draw-off fan 59 by means of an air-tube 60, having branches 61, which, as shown, lead one from each of the fan-cases 2 of the said machines. Of course the branch air-tubes 61 might lead from any suitable part of the endless air-trunks of the said machines. The fan 59 discharges through a spout 62 into a dust-collector 63, which, as shown, is of the cyclone type. As shown in Fig. 5, the several machines are supported by a lower floor 64, while the common drawoif fan 59 and the dust-collector 63 are shown as supported by an upper floor 65. It will of course be understood that the individual draw-off fans shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, might and probably would in practice be arranged to discharge into suitable dust-collectors.

The novel form of dust-collector illustrated in this application is not herein claimed, since the same is subject-matter of a divisional application filed of date June 10, 1904, under Serial No. 211,947, and entitled Dust-collector.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

1. In combination with an endless air-current grain-cleaning machine, a fan having its inlet in communication with the endless aircurrent conduit and its discharge outside of the machine for withdrawing a portion of the endless air-current and discharging the same from the machine.

2. In combination with an endless air-current grain-cleaning machine, provided with a fan for creating an endless air-current, an auxiliary fan the inlet of which communicates with the endless air-current conduit and the discharge of which is outside the machine for withdrawing a portion of the endlessair-current and discharging the same from the machine.

3. In combination with an endless air-current grain-cleaning machine, provided with a fan for creating an endless air-current, means for feeding the grain through said current, and a grain-discharge open to the atmosphere, an auxiliary fan the inlet of which communicates with the endless air-current conduit and the discharge of which is outside the machine, for withdrawing a portion of the endless aircurrent and discharging the same from the machine.

4. In combination with an endless air-current grain-cleaning machine, provided with a fan for creating an endless air-current, means for feeding the grain through said current, and a grain-discharge open to the atmosphere and under the influence of the endless air-current-creating fan, an auxiliary fan the inlet of which communicates with the endless aircurrent conduit and the discharge of which is outside the machine for withdrawing a portion of the endlessair-current and discharging the same from the machine.

5. In a grain-separator, the combination of a fan for creating an endless air-current or circuit, and a pipe or conduit tapping the circuit and leading to the inlet of an auxiliary fan, whereby a part of the air is positively withdrawn from the endless current, and conducted through said conduit, for the purpose I rent grain-cleaning machine, an auxiliary In testimony whereofI aflixmy signature in fan having its inlet in communication with presence of two Witnesses. the endless air-current conduit and its disa Y I I charge outside of the machlne, and a dust-col- EMlL D RAVER 5 lector also outside the machine receiving the Witnesses:

discharge from said auxiliary fan, substan- H. W. COLVIN,

tially as described. JAMES MON EILL. 

